Rachel Pishhorn

A Year 10 pupil at Casterton Business and Enterprise College had been told to remove the temporary ‘red’ dye from her hair or to face disciplinary action.

Charley Rush, aged 14, returned to school last week with her temporary new hair colour, a ‘mahogany’ red, only to be told by the school that she would face isolation if the hair colour wasn’t resolved.

The temporary dye was put on at the beginning of the summer holidays, but lasted longer than expected. During her first week back at school, Charley’s parents received a letter from the school stating that Charley’s hair colour needed to be changed, as it didn’t follow school policy.

Charley’s dad, Sean said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. Charley is very upset and has been put into detention a number of times, simply for the colour of her hair.

“She’s putting on a brave face, but we know it’s affecting her.”

For the past two weeks, Charley has been given a ‘behaviour point’ for every day that her hair is this colour. Two of these points equals a lunchtime detention, six an after-school detention.

Charley Rush, a pupil at Casterton Business and Enterprise College who is being punished for having 'red' hair Photo: Alan Walters EMN-151009-092150001

Sean said: “If my kids deserved to go into detention because of their behaviour, then fair enough. But I’m not happy that Charley is being punished for her hair colour. It’s definitely not an ‘in your face’ colour as it has been described by teachers.”

Sean said that he’s tried to speak to the school’s principal on a number of occasions to try and resolve the matter, but has yet managed to do so.

Principal of Casterton Business and Enterprise College, Carl Smith said that the school has offered Mr Rush ‘clear and polite’ advice in regards to the situation.

He said: “We are proud of the high standards of uniform and appearance that we have at this school and we will continue to enforce it.

“Parents want the school to have clear standards and in this case I feel it’s right and proper that the pupil conforms to the school policy.”